Internet treatments putting STI patients at risk

Internet vendors are failing to publish necessary information about treatments for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and placing many patients at 'significant' risk, researchers have warned.

Consumers often prefer the privacy of the internet when seeking out medications for STIs, but a new study by the University of East Anglia suggests they may not be fully informed.

Less than a quarter of internet vendors surveyed by researchers gave information about the potential side-effects of medications, while a similar number also failed to alert patients to possible interactions between the drugs and prescription medicines.

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In addition, less than a quarter of vendors gave advice on how to avoid STIs.

Dr Roberto Vivancos, one of the researchers, said that people were taking 'significant risks' by buying their own treatments on the internet.

'Treatment of sexually transmitted infections is not a simple one-off step of popping the pills or slapping on the creams,' he noted.

Dr Vivancos advised that professional treatment is 'likely to be far better and cheaper than taking chances on an unproven internet remedy'.

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